On December 26, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced that C Casa Restaurant and Bar in Napa, California broke several important labor laws. An investigation showed that the restaurant let children as young as 14 years old work too many hours during school days and made them use dangerous equipment. This violated the child labor rules under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
The Department of Labor also found that the restaurant failed to give a nursing employee the private space and break time she needed to pump breast milk, as required by law. Under the federal PUMP Act, most nursing employees must be given break time and a private space to pump breast milk while at work. After she spoke up, the restaurant cut her work hours, which reduced her pay — a form of unlawful retaliation.
Because of these violations, C Casa was ordered to pay $45,570 in civil penalties and $3,300 in back wages to the nursing worker. Donald Hines, a Department of Labor official, said businesses must respect workers’ rights, protect young employees, and support working mothers. He called C Casa’s actions dangerous and unacceptable.
In 2024, the Department of Labor found over 4,000 cases of illegal child labor nationwide and issued more than $15 million in penalties. The Department runs a program called YouthRules! to teach teens, parents, and employers about safe and legal work for young people. Workers can check if they are owed wages by using the Department’s Workers Owed Wages search tool or calling 1-866-4-US-WAGE.